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Iran to begin spy trial of Washington Post journalist Spy trial of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian begins in Iran
(about 7 hours later)
The trial of the Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent, Jason Rezaian, in custody for 10 months and accused of espionage, will open in Iran on Tuesday, a senior judicial official said. The trial of the Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent, Jason Rezaian, in custody for 10 months and accused of espionage, has opened in Iran.
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejeie, quoted on Monday by the ISNA news agency, said Rezaian’s lawyer and an interpreter would be present in court but declined to give further details. “He has been charged with espionage for collecting confidential information … and handing it to hostile governments, writing a letter to Obama and acting against national security,” his lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“I cannot reveal the details of the case but the trial will take place tomorrow and it will be up to the judge to decide whether the trial will be public or not,” he said.
The Washington Post said the trial would be “closed to the world” and slammed what it called injustices against its correspondent.The Washington Post said the trial would be “closed to the world” and slammed what it called injustices against its correspondent.
“The shameful acts of injustice continue without end in the treatment of … Rezaian,” the newspaper’s executive director, Martin Baron, said in a statement published in Monday’s paper.“The shameful acts of injustice continue without end in the treatment of … Rezaian,” the newspaper’s executive director, Martin Baron, said in a statement published in Monday’s paper.
“Now we learn his trial will be closed to the world. And so it will be closed to the scrutiny it fully deserves.”“Now we learn his trial will be closed to the world. And so it will be closed to the scrutiny it fully deserves.”
Ali Rezaian, the journalist’s brother, told Reuters Television: “I think the only reason you could possibly imagine that the trial would be closed would be to prevent people from seeing the lack of evidence.Ali Rezaian, the journalist’s brother, told Reuters Television: “I think the only reason you could possibly imagine that the trial would be closed would be to prevent people from seeing the lack of evidence.
“It’s unlike the Iranian court system, Iranian government, to keep things private when they can go out and use propaganda up against people.”“It’s unlike the Iranian court system, Iranian government, to keep things private when they can go out and use propaganda up against people.”
He said the family had hoped that Rezaian’s wife, journalist Yeganeh Salehi, and his mother would be allowed to attend the trial. He said his brother had lost 40lb (18kg) in prison.He said the family had hoped that Rezaian’s wife, journalist Yeganeh Salehi, and his mother would be allowed to attend the trial. He said his brother had lost 40lb (18kg) in prison.
Rezaian, who is from Marin county, California, was arrested at his home in Tehran alongside his wife and two Iranian-US friends, who have not been named.Rezaian, who is from Marin county, California, was arrested at his home in Tehran alongside his wife and two Iranian-US friends, who have not been named.
The Iranian-American was detained in July last year in a politically sensitive case that has unfolded while Iran and world powers conduct nuclear talks. He is being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.The Iranian-American was detained in July last year in a politically sensitive case that has unfolded while Iran and world powers conduct nuclear talks. He is being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.
The 39-year-old was formally charged with espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against Iran. The US and the Washington Post have branded the charges against him absurd, calling for his release.The 39-year-old was formally charged with espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against Iran. The US and the Washington Post have branded the charges against him absurd, calling for his release.
His lawyer Leila Ahsan said last week that Rezaian’s wife and another suspect had been summoned to court for Tuesday’s trial. Ahsan said last week that Rezaian’s wife and another suspect had been summoned to court for Tuesday’s trial.
Ahsan, who said she had learned that a date had been set for the trial after seeing a news report, said the file against Rezaian contained “no justifiable proof”.Ahsan, who said she had learned that a date had been set for the trial after seeing a news report, said the file against Rezaian contained “no justifiable proof”.
But Baron said in his statement that neither Salehi nor Rezaian’s mother would be present in court on Tuesday: “Jason’s mother, Mary, who has spent the last two weeks in Iran awaiting the trial, will not be permitted to attend. His wife, Yeganeh, who faces related charges, will also be barred; she is to be tried separately.”But Baron said in his statement that neither Salehi nor Rezaian’s mother would be present in court on Tuesday: “Jason’s mother, Mary, who has spent the last two weeks in Iran awaiting the trial, will not be permitted to attend. His wife, Yeganeh, who faces related charges, will also be barred; she is to be tried separately.”
Baron said the newspaper had tried to obtain a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran but its request was not acknowledged by Iranian authorities. Baron said the newspaper had tried to obtain a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran but its request was not acknowledged by the Iranian authorities.
“There is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it, and yet the fate of a good, innocent man hangs in the balance,” he said. “Iran is making a statement about its values in its disgraceful treatment of our colleague, and it can only horrify the world community.”“There is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it, and yet the fate of a good, innocent man hangs in the balance,” he said. “Iran is making a statement about its values in its disgraceful treatment of our colleague, and it can only horrify the world community.”
Rezaian was detained on 22 July, along with Salehi and two others, one of whom had worked as a photographer for the Post. Salehi and the other suspects have been released on bail.Rezaian was detained on 22 July, along with Salehi and two others, one of whom had worked as a photographer for the Post. Salehi and the other suspects have been released on bail.